Last Sunday at breakfast my wife Fran asked what the plan was.
I responded, "First we'll go to church, then I'll go swimming with Eddy, then the family BBQ, and then a movie... and then... I'll get a call from that big US publisher saying they want to do my faith and science book, and the Canadian company I've been talking to will confirm that they want me to write a book on the parable of their work, and then the Templeton foundation will look favorably on the grant proposal I'm submitting, and I'll have three amazing synergizing projects to work on over the next few years.... and I'll have a work life!"
Late that same day, lying on our bed, I began to pray for my three vocational opportunities, but then stopped and prayed more of a "whatever you want for my life" kind of prayer instead. Fran told me that it was okay to pray for what I wanted. So then I did, in what felt like a totally free, child-like way.
On Monday, I got an email from a big Templeton funded faith/science group, asking if I'd write an article for their website. The conversation then led to them expressing interest in publishing my book, in concert with a publisher who already had, and was reviewing, my manuscript.
On Tuesday, I met with that Canadian company and they want to do the book, in a slightly different format, written over a longer period of time. This project is a perfect next step in terms of going deeper with the vocation as parable idea.
On Wednesday, I finished up our Templeton Grant submission and today I hit send. It's as good as I can make it, and now in God's hands. This project would give academic legs to the whole two-book vision in more deep and lasting ways than I could imagine.
Each night this week, as Fran and I were reading the bible before sleeping, we encountered reminders of God's promises and mentions of his wanting to give us the desires of our hearts;
"The earth is the Lord's
and everything in it..."
Psalm 24:1
"I have put my words in your mouth
and covered you with the shadow of my hand"
Isaiah 51:16
"May [God] give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed...
May the Lord grant all your requests."
Psalm 20:3-5
"You [God] have granted his heart's desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips..."
Psalm 21:2
After a year of vocational tumult it feels like my work life is starting to take shape again.
And all I feel is peace.